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Japan face busy rugby month

Sportal.co.nz 01 Nov 2013 Getty Images

Japan's Test against the All Blacks is the start of an intense international programme.

After Saturday's match, the Japanese side head to Edinburgh to play Scotland on November 9. They follow that with a game against Gloucester on November 12 and Russia in Wales on November 15. They complete their tour with a game against Spain in Madrid on November 23.

Coaching the side, in the absence of Eddie Jones who suffered a stroke, is fellow Australian Scott Wisemantel.

Wisemantel said Jones was expected to remain in hospital for another two weeks.

"Of course we were all worried about Eddie. But now that we know he is making a good recovery, we need to work out how to move forward," he said.

Wisemantal who played for Eastwood in Sydney before joining the Parramatta Eels has also been an assistant coach for the Waratahs and Wallabies.

He said he would be working within the system put in place by Jones but he would be coaching in his own way within that system. But he said Jones would have a say in the team named, would want to watch training videos and was still very much the boss.

"Obviously I feel a lot of responsibility and with that comes some pressure. Eddie and I share the same passion.

"The focus is to get results, that's every coach's goal. We are up against the best team in the world but everyone is really excited," he said.